Olympia’s idea – Serena Williams says her 8-year-old daughter Olympia suggested she play doubles with Venus at Wimbledon. Hours after the sisters received a wild card, Williams revealed the matchmaker story—one that sets up their first shared Wimbledon court since 2016.
Serena Williams didn’t have to wait long for the plan to form. Hours after it was announced that Serena and Venus Williams would reunite at Wimbledon for the women’s doubles competition, Serena pointed to the person who pushed it forward at home.
“My daughter, Olympia, told me I should play with Venus,” Williams said on Tuesday at the Berlin Open. Olympia’s suggestion came with a confidence Serena described as unshakable. “She’s always right… she’s very smart. She’s very wise, I think is a better word. So I said, ‘OK, Olympia, we’ll see if we can do it.’”.
The wish moved quickly into reality. Olympia got her wish, and the Williams sisters received a wild card entry into Wimbledon. They will share the court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for the first time since 2016.
The return carries weight that goes beyond sentiment. Together. the duo have won six doubles championships at Wimbledon. 14 major doubles titles overall. and three Olympic gold medals in doubles. Serena, a 23-time major winner, has won the Wimbledon singles title seven times. Venus has seven major singles titles, with five of them coming at Wimbledon.
For Serena, this will also be a homecoming of a different kind. It will be her first match at Wimbledon since 2022. Asked if she would be interested in the sole Wimbledon singles wild card remaining, Williams played coy and said, “We’ll see.”
Before Wimbledon becomes the next chapter. Serena’s recent return to competition has already offered a glimpse of what this moment means to her family. Earlier this month, she came back on the court at the HSBC Championship in London, partnering with Victoria Mboko. Williams and Mboko won their opening match. with the win attended by Olympia. along with Olympia’s mother’s family: Williams’ husband. Alexis Ohanian. and their 2-year-old daughter. Adira.
After that first win—the first since retiring four years ago—Williams said her daughters were interested in nearly everything except tennis. “Adira wanted to go to the toy store and Olympia wanted to know what was for dinner,” Williams joked.
The Wimbledon doubles wildcard now lands inside that same framework of priorities. Williams, 44, has described coming out of retirement as a way to let her kids see her play—less about proving anything, more about making the moment count.
“I’m putting no pressure on myself. I’ve had enough pressure,” she said earlier this month. “It’s really about my kids getting to see me play. Olympia is a little bit older, Adira is very young, but it’s also still moments like that. An athlete is the best thing you can be and the highest place. and having an opportunity to still be able to possibly do that one last time is kind of cool and exciting.”.
That return hasn’t been smooth, though. At the HSBC Championship in London, Williams and Mboko’s run ended when Mboko was forced to retire due to injury.
Even with that setback, the story now turning toward Wimbledon has one clear driver: a child’s simple suggestion—then a wild card that makes it possible for Serena and Venus to step back onto the same stage.
Olympia, it seems, isn’t just cheering from the stands. She helped pick the pairing.
Serena Williams Venus Williams Wimbledon doubles wildcard entry Olympia All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Berlin Open HSBC Championship Karolína Muchová Victoria Mboko Alexis Ohanian